Ash tray



March 5, 1946. A, w BECKER 2,396,075

A H TRAY Filed Sept. 22, 1943 Patented Mar. 5, 1946 UNITED STATE PATENTOFFICE This invention relates to improvements in ash trays and itconsists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularlypointed out in the appended claim.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an ash traywhich eliminates fire hazards from burning cigarettes placed thereon, sothat the tray is safe in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ash tray which preventsthe ashes therein from being blown therefrom by an ordinary draft, sothat it assures cleanliness about its place of use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tray of this kindwhich may be made from noncritical material and is of a simpleconstruction which permits a positive cleaning thereof so as to remainsanitary and free from objectionable odors.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide an ash tray which isso constructed that when a lighted cigarette is supported in part uponthe rim of the tray and burns away, the remaining part of the cigarettewill positively fall into and not outside of the tray to constitute afire hazard.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an ash traythat includes within the same, a support having cigarette receivinggrooves so constructed that cigarettes placed therein will not becomewet and soggy.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a tray of this kindthat is soconstructed as to include a snuifer whereby the lightedcigarette placed therein is almost instantly extinguished withoutdamage, rising smoke or altered taste when relit.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others togetherwith the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specificationproceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ash tray embodying one form of theinvention therein.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same as taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustratedin the drawing, the improved ash tray includes a relatively shallowbowl-like body 5. The body, which in this instance is circular in plan,has a flat bottom wall 6 and an upstanding side wall indicated as awhole at 1. Rising from the central part of the bottom is a relativelylow circular boss 8 that is concentric with the side wall.

The side wall is of a novel construction in that it is of the greatestdiameter at its mid portion or belt 9. The wall part II) below said belttapers inwardly and downwardly to join the periphery of the bottom wallwhile the wall part II above said belt tapers upwardly and inwardly toform a top edge I2 which is so narrow that a lighted. cigarette may noteasily be balanced thereon.=; A flange l3 tapers downwardly and inwardlyfrom said edge to overhanfa fairly considerable annular marginalportion-of the bottom wall. The" function of this flange will more fullyappear later.

Associated with the bowl thus far described is The bottom end ofthemember has an inside diameter snugly but removably to flt'about theperiphery of the body boss 8 when the bottom edge of said side wallrests on the bottom 8 of the body.

The top surface of the top wall It, which is herein shown as flat. isdisposed in a; plane slightly below that of the edge l2 when thememherIt is in place in the bowl body. In the top surface of the wall It ofthe member I4 is provided a plurality of V shaped grooves l'l. As bestshown in Fig. 1, there are four of such grooves arranged as a rectangle,with the ends of the grooves opening jointly through the periphery ofthe member. The grooves I! are disposed tangentially to a circle havingas its center a point in the vertical axis of the member I and eachgroove opens at both ends through the periphery of said member at theends of at least two of the other of said grooves.

Also, in the top wall of the member I are provided openings l8 throughwhich a cigarette maybe inserted endwise for the purpose of snuffing outor extinguishing the same. Preferably said openings are of a diameterapproximating the greatest width of the grooves I! and one of saidopenings is disposed midway between the ends of each groove. When themember II is disposed in the bowl body 5 as shown in the ing inwardly ofsaid edge is much longer than that part of the cigarette projectingoutwardly from said edge. This relation is apparent at the right handside of Fig. 2 wherein a cigarette is shown in dotted lines at 20.

When the cigarette is lighted and it is desired to use the tray, one wayis to engage the lighted end on the top It of the member l4, and toengage the other end upon the edge ii. A lighted cigarette will burnafter it has been disposed as above mentioned. If it is not removed, itwill burn away and when the burning end has cleared the periphery of themember I, the cigarette will fall through the space is into the bowl,due to the overbalanced eflect before noted. In this movement of thecigarette it first engages the flange is which directs it, end first,through the space I! into the bowl- Should the cigarette being smoked beplaced in one of the holding grooves H as indicated in dotted lines 2|in Fig. 2, it is to be noted that a space is present between the bottomof the cigarette and the bottom of the groove. This space provides forthe circulation of air therethough so that the cigarette will not becomewet and soggy at the lines of contact with the sides of the groove, dueto condensation.

When the tray is in use, there is generally an accumulation of ashes andother matter in the bowl. Even though the tray herein is disposed in adraft, the moving ashes thereof are trapped by the overhanging flange l3and prevented from blowing out through the space ll. Thus thesurrounding surfaces remain clean and neat in appearance.

To extinguish a lighted cigarette, the lighted end thereof is insertedthrough an opening I8 until the lighted end engages the top surface ofthe boss 8. It will be thus extinguished almost instantly, allowing buta minimum escape of smoke through the other holes ll.

The top surface of the member ll, while herein shown as smooth and flat,may include portions for holding packages or boxes of matches, or someemblem, ornament, or the like. The surface of the wall part II, whileherein shown as plain, provides an ideal space for decoration ele- Iments or for advertisements.

With the construction described, the danger of a lighted cigarettefalling from the tray is eliminated and no matter how carelessly alighted cigarette is placed on the tray, it will fall into the trayeither when burned down or when the tray is jostled. Also, the flang l3presents a good finger hold in picking upthe tray from a flat surface.

In order that the size relationships may be better understood, somebasic dimensions have been indicated of the form found advantageous foruse with a conventional cigarette which has a length of approximately 2%inches.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the formand arrangement of the two parts constituting the tray, the same is tobe considered only in the illustrative sense 'so that I do not wish tobe limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in theappended claim.

I claim as my invention:

An ash tray embodying therein a body having a bottom, a hollow invertedme mber removably seated on the bottom and having a top in which are Vshaped cigarette holding grooves, said grooves being disposedtangentially to a circle having as its center a point in the verticalaxis of said member, with each groove opening atboth ends through theperiphery of said member at the ends of at least two of the other ofsaid grooves.

ALOYSIUS W. BECKER.

